Five Lip Balms That Tint, Soothe and Protect

January 19, 2011

Christmas was about a hundred years ago, the first day of spring is over two months away, and we have not seen the grass (or concrete) in New York for nearly a whole entire month. Most of that is bearable, but what really gets my boyshorts in a twist is zombie winter lips.

I love reds. And nothing is worse that swiping on a pretty, pigmented hue only to have it settle into cracks and adhere to flakes with alarming efficiency, creating a horrible line of demarcation and sapping the joy of lipcolor. A luxe balm helps, but they’re not nearly as fun as a product that is imbued with its own tint. So here are five fabulous tinted balms that will both color and soften dry winter lips.

1.) Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Color Balm: This line, cutely styled in promo pics with cubes of gelatin, comes in eight sheer-ish balms- most of which are subtle enough to work on pretty much everyone. Mango and sheer butter are balm-standard ingredients to moisturize and soothe.

2.) MAC Tinted Lip Conditioner SPF 15: I was a MAC artist when these debuted, and it was the happiest day of my tenure there. Petting Pink is a gorgeous color, but these rich, creamy pots get a vote just for delicious scent alone.

3.) Benefit Benetint Lip Balm SPF 15: I always wanted to love Benetint, but the nail-polish-esque texture wasn’t too practical for on-the-go application. This balmy version is purse friendly and the color is super cheery for glum winter days.

4.) Palladio Tinted Lip Balm in Brownie: I picked this up on an utter whim last week, and it’s a hugely pleasant surprise for $3.99. This is one product I plan on seriously stocking up on, because the color is amazing and the price point is crazy-good. It feels like a softer Chapstick, but the color is something akin to MAC’s Twig. Top marks!

5.) Korres Lip Butter: The sunny Quince color of this balm is both peachy and pink, and the formula, free of parabens and synthetic fragrance, can be used both on lips and cheeks for a subtle, healthy glow.

Do you have a favorite tinted balm? Have I skipped over any must-haves?